The Celtics looked like an efficient engine through the first half of their game against the Thunder on Sunday. But that’s also what makes their second-half performance that much more surprising. After putting up 65 points in the first half, the C’s scored just 27 the rest of the game in their worst half of the season. That resulted in a 105-92 loss for the Celtics to the hungry, young Thunder.
The C’s owned the physicality edge in the first half as their double big lineup helped in that regard. They generated good looks, resulting in all those points even when the 3s weren’t going down. It’s just that the Celtics were flustered in the second half, which Kristaps Porzingis candidly pointed postgame.
“Once they turned it up a little bit in the second (half), we played stupid and we just gave some possessions away,” Porzingis said. “Once you start giving enough possessions like this, it’s just downhill for us. Rest of the time was just battling uphill. Once they made that run, we were still up four or something. But the crowd was already into it.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pointed out a number of things that went wrong: "poor spacing, poor physicality on the ball and just poor screening." The C’s coughed up the ball to the tune of 16 turnovers, including 10 in the second half. Those giveaways resulted in 22 points off turnovers for the Thunder.
Of course, it’s no reason to push the panic button. The Thunder are the hottest team in the league, now winners of 15 straight games. They punched the C’s in the mouth in the second half as the visitors never meaningfully responded. Plus, Boston shot just 3-for-24 on 3s as it was a grind of a game to put up any points in the second half.
“Just a lack of poise, seeing the game, seeing how the game is being called, seeing the adjustments and being able to adjust quicker,” Jaylen Brown said. “Like in the first half, we got to the line, we got free throws, we got what we want. And in the second half, we didn’t get to the line. They weren’t calling those touch fouls. They upped the level of pressure and the whistle wasn’t on our side.”
The Celtics, fortunately, still have a chance to come away with a winning road trip on this four-game slate against West playoff teams. They impressed in wins over the Timberwolves and Rockets. They can shake off that second half collapse quickly considering they play the Nuggets next in Denver on Tuesday.
Plus, as a bonus, the C’s were at full strength Sunday. That’s been a rare occurrence this season as it was also the first time since late-November. So the Celtics not only have a chance to bounce-back, but to also keep working on that chemistry that led them to the 2024 NBA title last season.
“We’re a pretty experienced team, I would say,” Porzingis said. “But these kind of games, these kinds of teams, they’re dangerous. They’re dangerous and it can turn even if we’re up 10 at half. We just have to keep our foot on the gas and not give them any life, which is hard to do obviously with them playing at home with this kind of crowd.”
